France returns to training after World Cup boycott
Updated on 21 June 2010
As French players return to training a day after boycotting a session in support of an expelled striker, Keme Nzerem reports that there is every change the former champions will not qualifying for the second round.
The troubled France team returned to training today ahead of their Group A match against South Africa - a day after boycotting a session in support of expelled striker Nicolas Anelka.
All the players returned to the pitch for a "normal" training session at their World Cup base in Knysna, Western Cape before tomorrow's game in Bloemfontein.
The French players had refused to train on Sunday in protest against the French Football Federation's decision to kick Anelka out of the squad after he insulted coach Raymond Domenech at halftime of a 2-0 defeat by Mexico last week.
Training resumes on the 'field of nightmares'
The French media has dubbed the French training ground the "field of nightmares" after the team boycotted yesterday's session in protest at striker Nicolas Anelka being sent home after his row with the team's coach, reports Keme Nzerem from South Africa.
Today the French team are training again and training they need to because there is every chance they're not going to make it through to the second round of the World Cup.
The former world champions, the runners up in the last World Cup of 2006 are melting down rapidly.
France team director Jean-Louis Valentin said we would resign on Sunday over what he described as a "scandal" - prompting President Nicolas Sarkozy to step in, asking sports minister Roselyne Bachelot to prolong her stay in South Africa in order to speak to those involved.
The French press heaped scorn and derision on "Les Bleus" on Monday, lining up denounce the players, coach and French federation for a crisis that all agreed had brought shame to the sport and the nation.
French football great Zinedine Zidane added criticism for the walkout saying "I don't agree with the fact that they refused to go to the training pitch."
More from Channel 4 News
- Lampard: England crisis talks 'completely overdone'
Zidane who retired after the 2006 final which France lost on penalties after he was sent off for a headbutt, said in Johannesburg.
"There are two things that will be remembered from this World Cup -- the winner and the fact that the French team refused to attend the training session ahead of their match with South Africa."
France is in danger of making an early exit from the tournament unless they have a convincing win against hosts South Africa and hope there is a positive result between Uruguay and Mexico, the two teams currently top of the table.
